Michigan

Outgoing Michigan State defensive lineman Tyler Hoover made the most out of his successful petition for a sixth-year of eligibility, serving as a team captain for the Spartans' 24-20 Rose Bowl win against Stanford.
(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

EAST LANSING — The Indianapolis Colts have had their eye on Tyler Hoover for more than a month, and on Saturday night they signed the former Michigan State defensive tackle as a free agent.

"It's kind of exactly where I want to go,'' Hoover told MLive on Saturday night. "I was pretty prepared for the draft, my agent had a nice sheet and we kind of cut it down to teams I could be drafted by.''

The Colts had told Hoover they were interested, so he knew that if he didn't get drafted — only one Spartan was picked, Darqueze Dennard - that he would likely have a chance to make the Indianapolis team as a free agent.

"They were honest with me the entire time,'' Hoover said. "They called a month ago, and I talked to their national scout and the defensive line coach, who had come to pro day.''

Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi said before the draft that the 6-foot-6, 290-pound Hoover would fit best in a 3-4 scheme, like Indianapolis plays.

"There's a lot of people who like Tyler Hoover, he fits best as a 3-4, five-technique,'' Narduzzi said. "He's a mix between a defensive end and a defensive tackle. He's also played in 4-3 (front), so he can do both, In pass situation, he's a great three-technique.

"I think it's important if he doesn't get drafted, for him to pick his own team. It's hard to have a three-technique at 6-6.''

Hoover said the Colts had told him they were interested in selecting him in the draft, but he understood why they ultimately did not.

"They had kept in touch and told me they were really interested,'' Hoover said. "But they only had five picks in this year's draft.''

The Colts used on of those five picks on a defensive end, selecting Ball State's Jonathan Newsome in the fifth round.

Hoover was one of six free agents Indianapolis had signed as of noon the day after the draft, according to NFL.com, with Delaware's Zach Kerr the only defensive lineman in the group.

Hoover, who leaves Michigan on Sunday to be in Indianapolis for a Monday team meeting, said he's just relieved to be a part of another team after a long offseason of training.

"I'm very anxious,'' Hoover said. "'I've been trying to create new workouts every day to keep myself occupied.''